Railroad News

Although U.S. rail carload volume ticked up, intermodal traffic fell during the week ending May 4 compared with the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

U.S. railroads logged a total 535,089 carloads and intermodal units, down 2 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week climbed 1 percent to 268,559 units, while intermodal volume dropped 4.9 percent to 266,530 containers and trailers.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) yesterday announced a notice of proposed rulemaking to update the regulation governing locomotive engineer qualification and certification.

The proposed change would make the rule consistent with the corresponding regulation for conductors, FRA officials said in a press release.

Norfolk Southern Railway in 2019 is "reimagining possible" in all aspects of its business to improve customer service, increase efficiency, drive growth and create shareholder value, President and Chief Executive Officer James Squires Squires said today at the company's annual shareholders meeting.

"We are moving full speed ahead with a new plan for the future that provides a clear path to continued success — success that benefits our customers, our employees, and our shareholders,” said Squires in a press release.

Norfolk Southern Railway in 2019 is "reimagining possible" in all aspects of its business to improve customer service, increase efficiency, drive growth and create shareholder value, President and Chief Executive Officer James Squires Squires said today at the company's annual shareholders meeting.

"We are moving full speed ahead with a new plan for the future that provides a clear path to continued success — success that benefits our customers, our employees, and our shareholders,” said Squires in a press release.

CN is expanding its operations in western Canada with two additional major export supply chain projects, the Class I announced yesterday.

Both projects are focused on maximizing the use of rail into the Port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia. The first train of thermal coal from Coalspur Mines Ltd.'s Vista Mine in Hinton, Alberta, has shipped to Ridley Terminals. CN is also delivering the first unit train of propane from Alberta for export via the new AltaGas Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal, according to a CN press release.

CN is expanding its operations in western Canada with two additional major export supply chain projects, the Class I announced yesterday.

Both projects are focused on maximizing the use of rail into the Port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia. The first train of thermal coal from Coalspur Mines Ltd.'s Vista Mine in Hinton, Alberta, has shipped to Ridley Terminals. CN is also delivering the first unit train of propane from Alberta for export via the new AltaGas Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal, according to a CN press release.

Loram Maintenance of Way Inc. has acquired the rail division business of Roadscanners Oy, a Finland-based company. The purchase included Roadscanners’ Rail Doctor software and related intellectual property rights. Roadscanners Oy will continue its asset management business in other sectors.

Railhead Corp. has been awarded a contract to supply the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) with locomotive digital video recorder systems and seven cameras to be installed on 300 series bi-level gallery cars. The Railhead system, including forward and passenger facing cameras, is being installed to support NICTD’s safety initiative, according to a Railhead press release.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), which is pursuing $2.5 billion in rail projects, has launched the DART Plus program to communicate progress on the projects.

In a report this week, DART officials outlined progress on its downtown light-rail replacement, platform extensions, the Cotton Belt regional rail project and the D2 Subway project. 

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) board in California last week unanimously approved the final recommendations outlined in the 2019 New Transit Service plan. 

The plan includes 70 changes across light-rail and bus services, and an expansion of VTA’s core network of frequent routes to serve an additional 266,000 county residents.

Boston Surface Railroad Co. Inc. (BSRC), a private intercity passenger railroad that has proposed a new route in the U.S. Northeast, is developing a pilot to prove new enhancements to positive train control (PTC) capabilities.

BSRC is working with Siemens Mobility to test prototype technology on Siemens' Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System-II (ACSES) and 9-Aspect Cab Signal Systems, according to a BSRC press release.

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) yesterday hosted its second annual RailxTech event on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to demonstrate new technologies for improving rail industry safety.

At the event, Class I representatives met with lawmakers, congressional staff and other transportation stakeholders to learn more about the implementation and testing of new rail innovations, including positive train control (PTC) safety technology, drones, advanced digital imaging and ultrasonic inspection tools.

Canadian Pacific's board yesterday elected Isabelle Courville as its new chair to succeed Andrew Reardon, who announced last year he is retiring.

At the company's annual shareholders meeting in Calgary, Alberta, the board also reelected Courville as a director. She is the first woman to hold the position at CP, as well as among other North American Class Is, said CP President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Creel in a press release.

Canadian Pacific's board yesterday elected Isabelle Courville as its new chair to succeed Andrew Reardon, who announced last year he is retiring.

At the company's annual shareholders meeting in Calgary, Alberta, the board also reelected Courville as a director. She is the first woman to hold the position at CP, as well as among other North American Class Is, said CP President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Creel in a press release.

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) has created a community outreach program as part of an analysis of public transit options on Staten Island’s West Shore and to explore potential improvements.

The NYCT study will examine West Shore residents' transportation needs and patterns, as well as identify transit improvements to bring better mass transit options and connections between key locations on Staten Island and Manhattan. 

OneRail Coalition has hired Devon Barnhart to serve as deputy director effective May 13.

A lawyer and civil engineer focused on transportation policy, Barnhart understands both freight and passenger rail. Most recently, she served as the subcommittee staff director for the Transportation and Safety Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, according to a OneRail press release.

Denton County Transportation Authority’s (DCTA) board last month approved a new suite of on-call contracts that will enable the agency to allocate up to $2.4 million of its annual operating budget to mobility services in Denton County, Texas.

DCTA’s "Mobility as a Service" (MaaS) contract model utilizes on-demand, real-time, platform-based services that can include a combination of mobility options such as car and bike sharing, taxis and driverless vehicles.

Watco Cos. LLC has entered into a joint venture with SCH Services LLC to create an inland bulk terminal network in the four rivers area of Illinois and Kentucky.

The SCH terminal network will consist of Watco's Cora Terminal, located on the Mississippi River in Rockwood, Illinois; the SCH's Calvert City Terminal on the Tennessee River in Calvert City, Kentucky; and Four Rivers Terminal on the Ohio River in West Paducah, Kentucky.